IBM shares and quantum computers: What the breakthrough in materials simulation means for investors

• IBM used a quantum computer to simulate real magnetic materials for the first time
• The simulation results agree with neutron scattering experiments from laboratories
• The study was conducted by IBM and several US research institutions

Quantum computers reproduce laboratory data on real materials for the first time

IBM announced in a press release on March 26, 2026 that an IBM quantum computer simulated the properties of the magnetic crystal KCuF3, with results consistent with laboratory neutron scattering experiments. The study was published as a preprint on the scientific platform arXiv and was conducted by researchers from the US Department of Energy-funded Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Purdue University, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Los Alamos National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee and IBM.

The simulation used the IBM Quantum Heron processor with 50 qubits, according to the IBM Research Blog. The experiment simulated the results of something called neutron scattering, an experimental method in which neutrons are directed at a material to measure its quantum properties. Allen Scheie, a solid-state physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, called the results in the IBM announcement the most impressive agreement he has seen between experimental data and a qubit simulation.

Why the breakthrough is important for materials research

The ability to simulate materials at the quantum level is considered one of the most promising applications of quantum computers. New materials, such as better superconductors, more efficient batteries or novel active ingredients, depend on an understanding of quantum mechanical interactions, which can often only be approximately calculated with classical computers. Arnab Banerjee, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Purdue University, said in the IBM statement that using a quantum computer to better understand these simulations has been a decades-old dream. There are large amounts of neutron scattering data on magnetic materials that are not fully understood due to the limitations of classical approximation methods.

According to Abhinav Kandala, senior research scientist at IBM, the low error rates of the Heron processor were crucial to the accuracy of the simulation. With the so-called Quantum-Centric Supercomputing approach, IBM is pursuing a strategy in which quantum computers and classic high-performance computers are used in combined workflows. According to the IBM Research Blog, the researchers have already expanded the approach to other classes of materials with more complex interactions.

Classification for IBM shares

For investors, the breakthrough is a signal that IBM’s quantum computing strategy is making measurable scientific progress. IBM is thus positioning itself to compete with Alphabet, Microsoft and other providers who are also working on the commercial use of quantum computers. In the fourth quarter of 2025, IBM exceeded analyst expectations with revenue of $19.69 billion, according to its quarterly report published on January 28, 2026. The group’s AI business reached a cumulative order volume of over 12.5 billion US dollars.

However, the commercial use of quantum computers for materials research still lies in the future. The current study shows that today’s quantum processors can already perform scientifically relevant simulations, but further advances in error correction and scaling are needed for industrial applications. Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, spoke in the IBM announcement of a significant demonstration of the potential that quantum computing can have for scientific workflows.

Dominik Maier, editorial team at finanzen.net

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